WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 10, “Life, Itself”
Summary
Star Trek: Discovery’s series finale included a great tribute toStar Trek: The Next Generationwith its saucer separation scene. The series wrapped up its run with an action-packed episode and flash-forward coda that wonderfully paid tribute toDiscovery’s cast of characters. Before its heartfelt ending, however,Discoveryresolved its season-long conflict with the Breen and the search for the Progenitor’s technologyby depicting one final fight between the USS Discovery and a Breen Dreadnaught.
During the fight, Discovery performed a saucer separation in order to facilitate the crew’s coup de grâce against the Breen. Saucer separation was first introduced inStar Trek: TNG’s pilot episode, “Encounter at Farpoint,” when the crew of the USS Enterprise-D used it in their fight against Q (John de Lancie). Since then,saucer separation has been used sparingly inStar TrekTV shows and movies, butDiscovery’s use of it in the finale paid the perfect tribute toTNGfirst introducing the concept.
Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Finale Ending & Shocking Epilogue Explained
Star Trek: Discovery comes to an end with season 5’s finale wrapping up the Progenitors treasure hunt and an epilogue concluding the entire series.
USS Discovery’s Saucer Separation Was An Awesome Star Trek: TNG Tribute
Discovery’s season finale really did the saucer separation justice
In a season full of references toTNG,Discovery’s saucer separation was a wonderful final tribute to the show.Discovery’s use of the maneuver mirroredTNG’s first use in terms of stakes and drama and evenincluded a furtherTNGreference by having Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) be the one in charge during separation, something that echoed Commander William Riker’s (Jonathan Frakes) involvement inTNG’s pilot. However,Discoverymade saucer separation uniquely its own with its use of the spore drive. The maneuver in the finale was truly epic, much like the first on-screen instance of it inTNG.
Discovery’s saucer separation scene was both a more subtle and bigger tribute toTNG, bringing everything full circle.
Discoveryseason 5 has included many references toTNGthroughout its 10-episode run. The entire premise of the show’s final season was based on the episode “The Chase,“re-introducing the Progenitors and expanding on their lore in a way that made both shows feel like they had a clear throughline. Additionally, the finale included some furtherTNGEaster eggs with Geordi La Forge’s (LeVar Burton) VISOR and a bottle of Château Picard wine inDr. Kovich’s (David Cronenberg)office.Discovery’s saucer separation scene was both a more subtle and bigger tribute toTNG, bringing everything full circle.
Discovery’s Finale Proved Captain Burnham’s Ship Beat Picard’s TNG Enterprise
The USS Discovery has an edge over the Enterprise-D
The finale also proved that Discovery beat the USS Enterprise-D in one particular area: it was never destroyed. Although it gained a place as one of the most iconic ships in the franchise,the Enterprise-D continued aStar Trek: The Original Seriestradition of destruction when it was damaged beyond repair inStar Trek Generations.The Enterprise-D made some surprising returns, mainly inStar Trek: Picardseason 3 for one final mission, but its crash inGenerationscemented its mostly permanent decommission and the end of its service.
In contrast, and despite immense odds, the USS Discovery made it through five seasons without being permanently destroyed, andStar Trek: Discovery’s finale made it clear that the ship would never be truly decommissioned. Thanks to the existence of Zora (Annabelle Wallis) the ship could never be completely brought out of service, as this would be harmful to a sentient life form. Although Zora and Discovery may have to wait decades for the events of theStar Trek: Short Treks"Calypso” to take place,as long as Zora is alive, Discovery will continue to function.
All episodes of Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: The Next Generation are available to stream on Paramount+.
Star Trek: Discovery
Cast
Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D as they embark on interstellar explorations, seeking out new worlds and civilizations.
